Man in custody after woman asks other drivers to call 911

Published: Monday, June 17, 2013 at 01:53 PM.

A man is facing charges of restraining a woman in a car and assaulting her after she held a sign asking other drivers in the area to call 911 for her, the Onslow County Sherrif's Office said Monday.

The man, Tregan Hankins, 19, of N.C. 41 in Wallace, was charged with motor vehicle theft, assault on a female, felonious restraint, possession of a stolen vehicle and no operators license by the Onslow County Sheriff's Office.

According to a press release, the OCSO received information around 7 a.m. Sunday from a motorist who had seen a woman in a car on N.C. 11 who held a sign asking motorists to call 911.

OCSO said the motorist followed the vehicle with the woman in it and provided information to a 911 dispatcher.

The car traveled into Duplin County where deputies from the Duplin County Sheriff's Office stopped the vehicle, which Hankins was driving.

The investigation was turned over the OCSO. According to the OCSO, Hankins and the woman were involved in a domestic dispute at the woman's residence when she jumped into her car. Hankins took her car keys and left her residence driving her vehicle.

An OCSO release stated that Hankins stopped the vehicle at one point and assaulted the woman and destroyed her cellphone in the process.She received minor injuries from the assault.

A man is facing charges of restraining a woman in a car and assaulting her after she held a sign asking other drivers in the area to call 911 for her, the Onslow County Sherrif's Office said Monday.

The man, Tregan Hankins, 19, of N.C. 41 in Wallace, was charged with motor vehicle theft, assault on a female, felonious restraint, possession of a stolen vehicle and no operators license by the Onslow County Sheriff's Office.

According to a press release, the OCSO received information around 7 a.m. Sunday from a motorist who had seen a woman in a car on N.C. 11 who held a sign asking motorists to call 911.

OCSO said the motorist followed the vehicle with the woman in it and provided information to a 911 dispatcher.

The car traveled into Duplin County where deputies from the Duplin County Sheriff's Office stopped the vehicle, which Hankins was driving.

The investigation was turned over the OCSO. According to the OCSO, Hankins and the woman were involved in a domestic dispute at the woman's residence when she jumped into her car. Hankins took her car keys and left her residence driving her vehicle.

An OCSO release stated that Hankins stopped the vehicle at one point and assaulted the woman and destroyed her cellphone in the process.She received minor injuries from the assault.

She then wrote a sign asking for fellow motorists to call 911 on her behalf.

“The information provided by the caller was vital in locating and stopping Hankins,” the press release stated. “The caller’s actions could have stopped Hankins from committing additional criminal offenses and further injuries to the victim.”

Hankins was still in custody Monday morning with $30,500.00 secure bond.